Thumbs up for Occupy Wall Street: poll

A plurality of Americans approve of the Occupy Wall Street protests that have set up tents and filled streets from lower Manhattan in New York to Westlake Park in Seattle, according to a new Reuters/Ipsos poll.

The nationwide survey found that 38 percent hold a favorable view of the demonstrations, 24 percent view them negatively, with 35 percent still undecided.

Fifty percent of those surveyed said they paid very close attention or at least been somewhat attentive to the protests.

The poll found just 21 percent of Americans believe their country is on the “right track” with 74 percent saying America is going in the “wrong direction.”

President Obama gets disapproving marks on his job performance, but just barely. By a 47-50 percent margin, those surveyed disapprove of the job he is doing.

The poll of 1,113 American adults was taken Oct. 6-10 and has a margin of error of plus/minus 3 percent.